Ayodhya, located on the banks of river Sarayu in Uttar Pradesh, is one of the seven sacred cities for Hindus. Ayodhya plays a critical role in the Hindu epic of Ramayana as it is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Rama. This religious town is also the birthplace of four of Jainism's 24 Tirthankaras (religious teachers), beckoning tourists with its serene ghats.
The nearest airport to Ayodhya is the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow which is located 50km west from the town. The Lucknow Airport is connected with the major cities in India by regular flights. Alternatively, the Ayodhya railway station is connected by daily trains to the cities in Uttar Pradesh like Lucknow, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, and even Delhi. One can also opt to reach Ayodhya by bus from the neighbouring cities in the state.
Weather is mostly pleasant in Ayodhya, all throughout the year. There are occasional heat waves and cold breeze during the peak of summer and winter seasons. The best time to visit although is between October to December, both for its weather and the festivities.
Ayodhya has so much colour and spirituality to see for its tourists and has emerged as a significant spiritual centre. The land of multi-faith temples, the traffic-free streets of Ayodhya are intriguing enough in itself to warrant a visit.
Many eminent kings such as Ikshvaku, Prithu, Mandhata, Harishchandra, Sagar, Bhagirath, Raghu, Dileep, Dashrath and Ram ruled the capital city of Kosaldesh. It was during their reign, that the grandeur of the kingdom reached its pinnacle and epitomized Ram Rajya. Located on the east bank of River Saryu, Ayodhya is brimming with the remnants of a bygone era. The famous epics, Ramayan and ShriRamcharitmanas exhibit the splendour of Ayodhya.
An episode of Ramayan, a page of ancient history and a cluster of tourist attractions, this town has been a major centre for pilgrims, historians, archaeologists and students alike.